Epidemiologist Education and Training
Overview of Epidemiologists
- According to Article 60-2 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, it is necessary to station more than 100 epidemiologists at the central level (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), at least 2 in each city and province, and at least 1 in cities, counties or districts with a population of over 100,000. * In the process of responding to COVID-19, the number of central epidemiologists was expanded from more than 30 to over 100 for rapid and professional infectious disease response, and epidemiologists were also stationed in basic local governments (enforcement of the amended Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act in September 2020).
- Epidemiologists, as specialists in the field of infectious diseases, ▲conduct epidemiological investigations to identify the scale of infectious disease cases and trace sources of infection to prevent the spread of diseases, as well as to ▲investigate the causes of adverse reactions after vaccinations or cases where the infectious disease status is unclear but requires investigation of the cause of the outbreak.
Training and Certification System for Epidemiologists
- The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has established and operates a training and certification system for epidemiologists in accordance with the regulations on the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and training for epidemiologists (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency notification) to cultivate epidemiologists with expertise in infectious disease response. Upon initial hiring or appointment, individuals are appointed as probationary epidemiologists and, after completing on-the-job training (OJT) and fulfilling the completion requirements for specific targets, they are appointed as full epidemiologists.
Flowchart of the Appointment Process for Epidemiologists
- 01 Appointment of probationary epidemiologist
appointing authority
- 02 Completion of basic training
probationary investigator
- 03 Fulfillment of completion requirements
probationary investigator
- 04 Review of completion requirements
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
- 05 Completion of training and appointment
appointing authority
- 01 Appointment of probationary epidemiologist
- The training and education for epidemiologists is structured into general, advanced, and specialized courses, with variations in the duration of practical training and completion requirements based on the role and necessary competencies of epidemiologists specific to each organization. The general course is aimed at cities, counties, and districts, the advanced course at provincial and city levels, and the specialized course at central probationary epidemiologists, who must meet the necessary completion requirements for each course.
Table 1 | Completion Requirements for Epidemiologist Training and Education
대상, 수료요건 표 Target Group Completion Requirements Specialized Course Epidemiologists at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency - 1. 2 years of field-based on-the-job training (OJT)
- 2. Completion of 1 basic training session and 4 continuous education sessions
- 3. Approval of 2 infectious disease surveillance analysis reports
- 4. Approval of 2 infectious disease epidemiological investigation reports
- 5. Preparation of 2 press releases or promotional materials
- 6. Publication of articles in academic journals (SCIE, SCOPUS)
Advanced Course Provincial and City Epidemiologists
- 2 years of field-based on-the-job training (OJT)
- Completion of 1 basic training session and 4 continuous education sessions
- Approval of 2 infectious disease surveillance analysis reports
- Approval of 2 infectious disease epidemiological investigation reports
- Preparation of 2 press releases or promotional materials
General Course City/County/District Municipal Epidemiologists - 1 years of field-based on-the-job training (OJT)
- Completion of 1 basic training session and 2 continuous education sessions
- Approval of 1 infectious disease surveillance analysis reports
- Approval of 1 infectious disease epidemiological investigation reports
- The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency operates a training completion review committee to conduct final assessments of whether the central and local probationary epidemiologists meet the completion requirements and notifies the results to each institution.
Planning and Operation of Epidemiologist Training
- The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is operating effective training programs based on the basic and core competencies that epidemiologists must possess, to support the education and training of central and local epidemiologists.
- Basic and continuous education is provided to enhance the essential competencies included in the completion requirements for probationary epidemiologists, and refresher training is being conducted for those epidemiologists who have completed the education and training to maintain and improve their expertise.
Enforcement Rules of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act Appendix 3-2 (Contents of Education and Training Courses)
- Basic Training: Fundamental epidemiological training including the authority and responsibilities of epidemiologists, epidemiological characteristics by infectious disease, and the infectious disease surveillance system
- Continuous Education: Advanced courses related to epidemiological investigation including statistical calculations and data analysis for epidemiological investigations, diagnosis of infectious diseases, and laboratory testing
- Refresher Training: Education for the maintenance and enhancement of epidemiological investigation competencies, including current domestic and international issues related to infectious diseases and review of the latest cases of epidemiological investigations
- In addition, consulting support for the completion of training for probationary epidemiologists and a central-local mentorship program are being conducted, along with an international fellowship program in epidemiology operated by the International Vaccine Institute to enhance the global competencies of epidemiologists, with selections and dispatches currently underway.